Good olive oil can have amazing advantages for your health, and it forms a key part of the popular Mediterranean diet. The extra virgin type specifically has a host of potential health benefits; it’s rich in beneficial monounsaturated fats which can help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, according to Healthline.
It’s also packed with vitamins, with just one tablespoon providing an excellent source of vitamins K and E. However, when you’re browsing the aisles of your local supermarket to buy a bottle, you’re often faced with a lot of different options, making it hard to determine what’s best. Luckily, a gut health specialist has shared one critical mistake you should never make when shopping for olive oil – and that’s forgetting to check the label.
Clinical physiologist and gut health scientist Jordan Haworth, also known as Mr Gut Health, who has been documenting his Mediterranean diet experience for years, has shared the most effective method for shoppers to spot authentic olive oil on shop shelves.
He suggested there are three essential factors to consider when buying genuine olive oil – with the first being the most crucial.
The expert explained: “If it says ‘extra virgin’, then it’s pretty much guaranteed.” Extra virgin means it’s unrefined, so it preserves more of its natural flavour, vitamins, and minerals, and it’s also produced without heat or chemicals.
The next thing to consider is the origin of the olive oil, which should be clearly indicated on the label. Holding up a bottle of the Filippo Berio brand, he said: “Some EVOO [extra virgin olive oils], like this one, uses olives from different countries.
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“Whilst oil from the one country might be better for traceability, using olives from different countries is fine.”
The third and final factor to take into account is a crucial sentence – typically found on the reverse of the bottle – that will provide all the necessary information about its production process.
Turning the bottle around and quoting from the label, the expert declared: “Superior category olive oil obtained directly from olives and solely by mechanical means.
“This ensures that the oil has been extracted properly to preserve its nutrients. And FYI [for your information], you can cook with EVOO, and it’s much healthier to use than butter or tallow.”
Dining and Cooking